Combined laser and ozone therapy for onychomycosis in an in vitro and ex vivo model

In order to develop a fast combined method for onychomycosis treatment using an in vitro and an ex vivo models, a combination of two dual-diode lasers at 405 nm and 639 nm wavelengths, in a continuous manner, together with different ozone concentrations (until 80 ppm), was used for performing the experiments on fungal strains growing on PDA agar medium or on pig’s hooves samples. In the in vitro model experiments, with 30 min combined treatment, all species are inhibited at 40 ppm ozone concentration, except S. brevicaulis, which didn’t show an inhibition in comparison with only ozone treatment. In the ex vivo model experiments, with the same duration and ozone concentration, A. chrysogenum and E. floccosum showed total inhibition; T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum showed a 75% growth inhibition; M. canis showed a delay in sporulation; and S. brevicaulis and A. terreus did not show growth inhibition. This combined laser and ozone treatment may be developed as a fast therapy for human onychomycosis, as a potential alternative to the use of antifungal drugs with potential side effects and long duration treatments.